The Christmas miracles of the sporting world

Here, we will chart some of those Christmas miracles to happen at this time of year.

Pippen's Block (Christmas Day, 1994)

The Chicago Bulls and the New York Knicks faced off at a sold-out Chicago on Christmas Day in 1994. The Bulls were without Michael Jordan who had retired for the first time before the season started, giving Scottie Pippen the chance to step into the spotlight. And in 1994, he did just that.

Pippen was imperious. He played every minute of the game, scored 36 points with 16 rebounds, but the game is best known for his two blocks in overtime.

With time expiring and with the Knicks three points behind, Pippen spoiled not one but two shots from the three-point line and giving his Bulls their 14th win of the season. As the buzzer sounded, Pippen roared and he was surrounded by his teammates.

Chicago would not go on to win it all in 1994, bowing out in the playoffs.

England run riot at the MCG (Boxing Day, 2010)

As Ashes series go for England fans, the series of 2010/11 was one of the best to ever be played on Australian shores. England would retain the little urn with a 3-1 series win across the five tests. 

However, when the teams met in Melbourne in front of near-on 100,00 people on Boxing Day, there was still plenty to settle.

The sides were level after both winning a test - England in Adelaide and Australia in Perth - and it felt ahead of the fourth test match that either side could still win the Ashes. By the end of the first day of play though, that had dramatically changed.

England bowled first and they ripped through the Australian batting line-up to dismiss the home side for 98. Michael Clarke was the only batter to get into the 20s as England's seamers picked up all 10 wickets in just 42.5 overs.

With so much time left on day one, England then gave their Barmy Army the perfect late Christmas present finishing the day 157 without loss with Andrew Strauss walking off 64 not out, whilst Alistair Cook was unbeaten on 80. England would go on to put on 513 on days two and three before bowling the Australians out for 258.

The Longest Game (Christmas Day, 1971)

Basketball is not the only sport in the USA that sees action on Christmas Day. The NFL has had Christmas fixtures since 1971 and 30 games have now been played on December 25.

It was one of those first games that saw history made. The game between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Miami Dolphins was a play-off game and they kept the 50,000 fans in their seats for a long while with the game going to a second overtime period. The ball was in play for 82 minutes and 40 seconds - still an NFL record for the longest game - with both sides unable to be separated in the four quarters of regular play as well as the first overtime period.

Garo Yepremian kicked the winning field goal for Miami to see them beat the Chiefs in their final game at the Municipal Stadium by 27 points to 24. They would also make the Super Bowl, where they would lose to the Dallas Cowboys 24-3

Brighton's Christmas Blues (Christmas Day, 1940)

English football's tradition of Boxing Day fixtures is something rejoiced and revered all over the world with the feeling that they have always been part of its heritage. However, 80 years ago, things looked very different.

In 1940, during the Second World War, league fixtures were postponed, but football continued. Officially Brighton & Hove Albion's visit to Carrow Road on Christmas Day to face Norwich City was considered a friendly. This meant it fell to the teams - rather than a league - to organise the fixtures.

And when Brighton asked around for players from their first team to make the trip, the numbers were thin on the ground. Just four players made the 350-mile round journey along with the Brighton manager with the rest of the side made up of players pulled from the crowd.

Norwich, with a full-strength squad, went on to dominate the game - winning a whopping 18-0. The game, because of wartime rules, does not sit in any official records, but it's something that lives long in the memory of both teams. Although Brighton were dismantled in East Anglia, their record of never cancelling a game during the war was something to be proud of.